Thailand is a fascinating and bird-rich Asian country. Diverse habitats and a marvellous and extensive park and sanctuary system result in a large number of resident species, and there will be many Palearctic migrants present when we visit for our Thailand birding tour.

Our Thailand birding tour samples habitats from marshy plains, mangroves and salt pans around Bangkok to coastlines supporting the endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the extensive lowland forests at Kaeng Krachan National Park where we will access very productive blinds, the beautiful forests at Khao Yai, and montane forests in the northwest near Chiang Mai to Thailand’s highest mountain at Doi Inthanon.

A splendid tour led by our guide and local guides who know the area well.

We depart after an early breakfast for the 40 minute drive to Wat Chalerm Phrakiet temple and Public Park. Here, we are introduced to common open country birds such as Spotted Owlet, Coppersmith Barbet, Oriental Magpie Robin, Green Bee-eater, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Pied Starling, Common Iora, Common Tailorbird, Brown-winged Kingfisher, Asian Common Koel, Greater Coucal, Openbill Stork and the flashy Indian Roller. Afterwards we go to Wat Chong Lom temple for Edible-nest Swiftlet and then drive 1 hour to Mahachai Mangrove Forest, looking in particular for Oriental White-eye, Mangrove Whistler, Black-winged Stilt, Brown-throated and Olive-backed Sunbirds, Racket-tailed Treepie, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Golden-bellied Gerygone.

We spend the morning birding in the Laem Phak Bia area looking in particular for the rare, endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Painted Stork, Little Egret, and Black-capped, White-throated, Common and Pied Kingfishers, and host of other waders and wetland species. After this we bird at the nearby Royal Project - this project conducts research on polluted water caused by major cities. Here there are fish ponds, salt pans and a wooden walkway through mangrove forest.

After lunch we take a boat to Laem Phak Bia Sand Spit to look for Chinese Egret, Malaysian and White-faced Plovers, gulls and other waterbirds. As we drive to Khao Kakrao we’ll check out freshwater marshes for Black-faced Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Milky Stork, herons, rails and whatever else we can find. Landbirds could include Long-tailed Shrike, Siberian Stonechat, Plain Prinia and Black Drongo. If time we visit Bang Taboon Mangrove forest for look for Mangrove Whistler.

We arrive at Kaeng Krachan perhaps in time for a productive session of birding at a blind set-up especially for bird photography. At dusk we look for Indian Nightjar. We spend three nights here at Samarn Bird Camp just outside the park entrance.

Days 4 and 5 - Kaeng Krachan

We spend two productive days birding Kaeng Krachan. With an area of about 3000 km. the Kaeng Krachan National Park is Thailand’s largest national park, covering nearly half of the province. It protects mostly rainforests in the mountains along the boundary with Myanmar, but also the Kaeng Krachan reservoir is part of the park. The only significant river of the province is the Phetchaburi River.

A number of exciting species inhabit the lush forests – these include Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Blue Pitta and Orange-headed Thrush. Roadside birding here is very productive with many species from a wide range of bird families. In Dry Forest we look for Black-naped Oriole, Blue-winged and, Golden-fronted Leafbirds, Greater Yellownape, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Black-and-red Broadbill, and Crested Serpent Eagle, along with Red-bearded and Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, and Banded and Silver-breasted Broadbills. Higher elevation birding at Pha Nean Thung could produce Long-tailed Broadbill, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Great and Wreathed Hornbills, Flavescent Bulbul, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Great Barbet, Streaked Spiderhunter, Red-headed Trogon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Dark-sided Flycatcher, and mammals such as White-handed Gibbon and Dusky Leaf Langur. A daytime roost of the rare White-fronted Scops Owl will be a bonus. Other notables include Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Swinhoe’s Minivet. In addition, the blinds at Uncle Sin’s and nearby Ban Song Nok are excellent for bird photography and obtaining close views of otherwise shy forest species and we aim to spend time taking advantage of this unique opportunity.

We spend the early morning around Ban Song Nok, followed by a 4-hour drive to Pak Chong Agriculture area looking for Yellow-eyed Babbler, Yellow-capped Babbler, Green Bee-eater and more. After this we drive another hour to our hotel outside the main gate of Khao Yai National Park. Night near Khao Yai.

After breakfast we transfer to Bangkok and then take an afternoon flight to Chiang Mai. In the afternoon we drive north (about two hours) to Doi Ang Khang for an afternoon of exploratory birding, perhaps stopping at Chiang Dao Mineral Hot Spring and Wat Pha Blog cave for Limestone Wren-Babbler. We spend three nights near Doi Ang Khan.

Days 9 and 10 - Doi Ang Khang

We spend two days birding at Doi Ang Khang. There are several special birds in this area, notably Giant Nuthatch, White-browed Laughingthrush, Spectacled Barwing, Brown-breasted Bulbul and Spot-breasted Parrotbill amongst many others. Also, our chances of seeing many wintering thrushes and warblers will be good. The area around Ban Luang is almost completely deforested, with remaining cover on rocky ridges, and this attracts Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Daurian Redstart, Buff-throated Warbler and Little Bunting. If time permits we can look for the scarce Hodgson’s Frogmouth after dusk.

Day 11 - Transfer to Doi Inthanon NP

Today we drive south to Doi Inthanon NP where we spend two nights. Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest mountain, 8,400 feet above sea level, a distinctly cool change from the hot and humid lowlands. This is an excellent site for mountain birds and can be good for wintering warblers and thrushes. Dark-sided Thrush and Green Cochoa will be two stars we’ll be looking for, but there are many more special birds here.

This part of northern Thailand is a very bird-rich area; dry dipterocarp forests on lower mountain slopes merge into pine stands and deforested areas which support wintering Grey Bushchats, Siberian Rubythroats, Buff-throated, Radde's and Yellow-streaked Warblers, and Chestnut Buntings. Higher elevation evergreen forest contain patches of rhododendrons around ponds, where Red-flanked Bluetails, White-tailed and Ashy-throated Leaf-Warblers, and Scarlet Rosefinches occur. Night birding here can be good with Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Brown Hawk Owl and Asian-barred Owlet seen in the vicinity

Day 13 - Return to Bangkok

We spend the morning birding Doi Inthanan before catching a flight back to Bangkok. Night in Bangkok.

Day 14 - Departure

Our Thailand birding tour ends today, you can transfer to the airport for departure flights at any time.

On our Thailand birding tour, be prepared for hot, humid and sunny weather at low altitudes, with possible showers in the afternoon; we recommend bringing a light rain-jacket or poncho, although we try to avoid birding in any rain worse than a light drizzle. It will likely be cool in the morning in the northwest. Thailand is tropical and humid; our tour runs before the start of the summer monsoon in May. When we visit Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, 8,400 feet above sea level, the temperature can be cool, as can the nights at Doi Ang Khang.

We usually have early breakfasts and some before-breakfast birding since it is best to begin birding at daybreak. Some lunches will be picnic style to maximize our time in the field. Walking conditions will be generally easy to moderate; Trails anywhere may be muddy depending on how recently it has rained. The tour pace is fairly leisurely, with many stops. Walking is fairly easy, mostly on roadsides and tracks, occasionally on narrow forest trails; there will be a couple of fairly strenuous walks, for example at Doi Ang Khang. In general, we will be reasonably close to our vehicle. Bring mosquito repellent and/or mosquito-proof clothing because bugs can be a problem, especially at low elevations in moist humid conditions. We will probably encounter a few ticks and sandflies; leeches are usually not an issue outside of the monsoon season. You will need to bring a hat and sunblock. Our hotel in Bangkok is close to the skytrain which accesses downtown Bangkok. In the evenings we usually eat at the hotel or lodge where we are staying and review the list of birds and other wildlife that we have encountered, as well as discuss the following day’s activities.